User interface for augmented and virtual reality systems

ABSTRACT

A user interface for augmented reality (AR) systems and virtual reality (VR) systems which include a computer and virtual graphics and in which a user experiences a virtual viewing direction, includes: a virtual line pointer included in the virtual graphics and fixed with respect to the virtual viewing direction; a representation of the virtual line pointer to the user; and a user-operable device coupled to the computer for optionally marking an object intersecting the virtual line pointer.

[0001] The present invention relates to imaging systems and, more particularly to virtual reality systems.

[0002] Virtual Reality systems immerse the user in a virtual world. Essentially all visual stimulation is blocked out except that provided by a computer. Augmented Reality systems show the user a real world view with virtual graphics superimposed thereupon. Both kinds of systems have a feature in common in that they track the user's head or, as the case may be, the user's viewpoint, so that the graphics can be rendered from the user's viewpoint. When the user changes his position or moves his head, the virtual or augmented view is changed accordingly.

[0003]FIG. 1 show a schematic block diagram of an augmented reality system as may be utilized in conjunction with features of the invention. A tracker camera 10 is coupled by way of and A/D (analog to digital) converter 12 to a programmable digital computer 14. Two scene cameras 16 are coupled to computer 14. An ultrasound scanner 16, having a transducer 18, is coupled by way of an A/D converter 20 to computer 14. A head-mounted display (HMD) control unit 22 is coupled for signal interchange with computer 14 and to an HMD display 24.

[0004] Augmented Reality visualization of ultrasound images has been proposed in the literature; see for exampled, M. Bajura, H. Fuchs, and R. Ohbuchi. “Merging Virtual Objects with the Real World: Seeing Ultrasound Imagery within the Patient.”Proceedings of SIGGRAPH '92 (Chicago, Ill., Jul. 26-31, 1992). In Computer Graphics 26, #2 (July 1992): 20

[0005] Helpful background material on augmented reality and related topics can be found in Proceedings of the IEEE and ACM International Symposium on Augmented Reality 2000, dated Oct. 5-6, 2000; Munich, Germany; IEEE Computer Society, Los Alamitos, Calif., U.S.A. In the above-cited Proceedings, an article of particular interest entitled AUGMENTED WORKSPACE: DESIGNING AN AR TESTBED is published on pages 47-53, and is authored by Frank Sauer, an inventor in the present application, et alii.

[0006] See also the review article by R. T. Azuma: “A Survey of Augmented Reality”, Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 6(4), 355-386, (1997).

[0007] In one embodiment, the artificial (virtual or augmented) view is shown to the user using a head-mounted display.

[0008] It is herein recognized that certain problems present themselves with regard to the user interface problem in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). In particular, the questions of how a user points to a location in the Virtual or Augmented world, how does a user select an object, and how does user place a marker.

[0009] It is furthermore herein recognized that the following are possible: computer mouse-like or trackball-like input devices operated by hand or foot control; tracked pointers, possibly equipped with buttons or switches; and other external devices operated by the user that allow a user to input spatial information into the computer.

[0010] It is furthermore herein recognized that typically two different functions have to be combined in such a spatial information input device: a pointing function and a trigger function. For pointing, for example, the user moves the mouse until the pointer is in the desired location; for triggering, the user “clicks” the mouse button to activate their choice.

[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the pointing function is separated from the trigger function; the pointing function is related to the pose of the user's head. The pose of the user's head is known as it is being tracked in the VR or AR system.

[0012] The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the Drawing in which

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an augmented reality system.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a user interface for augmented reality (AR) systems and virtual reality (VR) systems which include a computer and virtual graphics and in which a user experiences a virtual viewing direction, includes: a virtual line pointer included in the virtual graphics and fixed with respect to the virtual viewing direction; a representation of the virtual line pointer to the user; and a user-operable device coupled to the computer for optionally marking an object intersecting the virtual line pointer.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a user's line-of-sight is utilized as a pointer. It may be thought of as a virtual line, extending in the user's viewing direction, rigidly attached to the user's head or, more precisely, fixed with respect to the virtual or augmented viewpoint and viewing direction, so that it moves along with the user's head movements, always in the user's field-of-view. The user can make a selection by simply turning his head in a direction such that the virtual line points to the chosen object, or selected location. Then, the user has to activate his choice with a trigger interface provided by the system. The trigger interface may comprise any convenient device such as a pushbutton, a footswitch, a voice activated sensor, or other similar device.

[0016] In accordance with the principles of the invention, depending on the system in use, the virtual pointer preferably coincides with the optical axis of the virtual camera for a monoscopic system. In the event of a stereoscopic system, the virtual pointer preferably coincides with the optical axis of one of the two virtual cameras or with a line in between the two optical axes of a stereoscopic system.

[0017] The virtual camera is used to project the virtual 3D scene onto a virtual 2D image, shown to the user. For video-based AR, the virtual camera is matched to the real camera, so that a scene that includes real and virtual objects is being viewed from a common viewpoint.

[0018] In accordance with the principles of the invention, for a stereoscopic system: if the virtual pointer intersects a virtual object (or a real object, of which the 3D location is known), one can calculate the 3D position of this intersection. Hence, the position of this intersection can be visualized stereoscopically, giving the user a 3D perception. To the user, the virtual pointer can appear like a search-light that wanders over the surface of the virtual world (and the real world, if its 3D structure is known) according to the head movements of the operator or user.

[0019] In accordance with the principles of the invention, for a monoscopic system (monocular or binocular): depth information cannot really be displayed in a monoscopic view. The virtual pointer is simply displayed as a marker on or around the virtual camera's optical axis. The user has to align this marker with the desired location in the scene. He does not, in general, have the perception that the marker is on the object's surface. In a binocular system, the marker is preferably shown only to one eye, preferably the dominant eye. This visualization of the virtual pointer can also be used in a stereoscopic system, but is perceptually inferior to the one where the marker appears on the object's surface.

[0020] In principle, a stereoscopic system provides the option of replacing the virtual line pointer with a point on that line, i.e. to show the pointer tip at a fixed distance to the user. This would allow the user, for example, to “depress” a virtual button in the scene by first aligning the virtual pointer tip on top of the virtual button, then moving the head forward to “press in” the virtual button. This method, in accordance with the principles of the invention, combines pointing and triggering within the same interface.

[0021] Various convenient shapes are possible for an embodiment of markers that visualize the virtual pointer in accordance with the invention, including a circle, a cross, or an arrow.

[0022] By way of a further exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention follows, with consideration of 3D marking for AR ultrasound system. Considering a system where an ultrasound transducer is being tracked with respect to the user's viewpoint, the system shows an augmented view, in which the ultrasound image appears attached to the transducer, in the location where the actual scan is being performed. Structures seen in the ultrasound image appear in the actual location of the physical structures that are being detected by the ultrasound scan. One can effectively employ the user interface described above to mark the location of structures on the ultrasound image. Preferably, a stereoscopic display is used, and the location of the virtual pointer is visualized in the augmented view as a circle in the plane of the ultrasound image. The method and apparatus of the present invention find application in a variety of apparatus such as, for example, the apparatus and methods disclosed in the aforesaid pending patent applications LOCAL 3D RECONSTRUCTION FROM ULTRASOUND IMAGES and MARKING 3D LOCATIONS FROM ULTRASOUND IMAGES.

[0023] While the invention has been explained by way of exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by one of skill in the art to which it pertains that various modifications and changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the claims following. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A user interface for augmented reality (AR) systems and virtual reality (VR) systems which include a computer and virtual graphics and in which a user experiences a virtual viewing direction, said interface comprising: a virtual line pointer included in said virtual graphics and fixed with respect to said virtual viewing direction; a representation of said virtual line pointer to said user; and a user-operable device coupled to said computer for optionally marking an object intersecting said virtual line pointer.
 2. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said virtual line pointer is fixed in said virtual viewing direction.
 3. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said representation of said virtual line pointer is a search-light-like ray or beam.
 4. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said representation of said virtual line pointer is a mark at a perceived distance along the line of said virtual line pointer.
 5. A user interface as recited in claim 4, wherein said perceived distance is variable so as make said mark appear at a surface of said object intersecting said virtual line pointer.
 6. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said representation of said virtual line pointer is a mark positioned in the line of said virtual viewing direction.
 7. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said user-operable device is a switch.
 8. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said user-operable device is a speech recognition device.
 9. A user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said user-operable device is a virtual button included in said virtual graphics.
 10. A user interface as recited in claim 9, wherein said virtual line pointer exhibits a tip at a perceived fixed length from said user's head and wherein said user-operable device is a virtual button included in said virtual graphics, said virtual button being triggered when said tip is placed thereupon and said user's head is moved forward such that said tip appears to move forward and press said virtual button. 